Sen. Van Hollen: Federal Delegation Members Call on President Trump to Overturn Denial of Maryland Disaster Funding

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Nov. 20:

The members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today called upon President Donald Trump to overturn the Oct. 14 decision to deny federal disaster funding to Maryland for the impacts of Tropical Storm Isaias.

"On August 3 and 4, 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias impacted Maryland with wind gusts up to 72 mph, spreading debris over roadways and across power lines, resulting in over 75,000 power outages and one fatality. The torrential rain - over nine inches in parts of Maryland - caused flooding which washed out roadways and bridges in multiple counties. Isaias spawned nearly a dozen tornadoes across the state, causing significant damage to public infrastructure and private property," the members write. "Given the massive impact that this flooding had on state and local resources in Maryland, we urge you to reconsider this denial, grant the appeal, and approve the provision of supplementary federal assistance, pursuant to the Stafford Act."

The Maryland congressional delegation members also underscored that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic seriously complicated efforts to respond to the tropical storm. "The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on state and local governments responding to natural disasters during this ongoing pandemic," they write. "Due to travel and safety restrictions regarding COVID-19, many virtual damage assessments have resulted in a cumbersome data collection process and lower amounts of damages that could be verified by FEMA, as opposed to using the traditional physical inspection process."

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November 20, 2020

To: President Donald J. Trump, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing as the Maryland Congressional Delegation to express our strong support for Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's appeal for the denial of a federal declaration of a major disaster for the State of Maryland as a result of the impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias. The federal government denied the State of Maryland's request on October 14, 2020. Given the massive impact that this flooding had on state and local resources in Maryland, we urge you to reconsider this denial, grant the appeal, and approve the provision of supplementary federal assistance, pursuant to the Stafford Act.

On August 3 and 4, 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias impacted Maryland with wind gusts up to 72 mph, spreading debris over roadways and across power lines, resulting in over 75,000 power outages and one fatality. The torrential rain - over nine inches in parts of Maryland - caused flooding which washed out roadways and bridges in multiple counties. Isaias spawned nearly a dozen tornadoes across the state, causing significant damage to public infrastructure and private property. Recovery efforts will include debris removal, as well as permanent work to repair infrastructure damaged by flooding and wind.

Calvert, Dorchester, and St. Mary's Counties bore the brunt of the tropical storm, with an estimated $17 million in damages in those three counties as a result of Isaias. However, storm damage was reported through the entire state. For example, Charles and Cecil counties experienced extensive damage to roads and bridges, creating ongoing travel hazards.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on state and local governments responding to natural disasters during this ongoing pandemic. Due to travel and safety restrictions regarding COVID-19, many virtual damage assessments have resulted in a cumbersome data collection process and lower amounts of damages that could be verified by FEMA, as opposed to using the traditional physical inspection process.

We agree that supplementary federal assistance is necessary. We therefore urge you to expeditiously review and approve Maryland's appeal and grant a major disaster declaration for Isaias. Thank you for your timely consideration of this request, and we look forward to your response.

See signatories here: https://www.cardin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2020.11.20%20Delegation%20Letter%20Isaias%20Declaration%20Appeal.pdf